RESEARCH METHODS - SAMPLING

STARTER - What is the micro approach?

Bottom up approach, interpretivsts like this, focus on the individual, qualitative data, validity, "verstehen" - understand

STARTER - What is the micro approach?

Top down approach, looking at a large population of people, positivitsts like this approach, quantitative data, reliability, replicable, generalizable

Why do researchers want to make generalizations?

Quick way to find data, saves money, get a full picture/hypothesis of what is happening in society, spot trends

What is a sample?

"a subgroup" of the wider population that we are studying

What is the basic purpose of sampling?

To ensure that those people we have chosen to study are representative of the research population

How can we make a study representative?

Need to include all demographics

CAGE - class, age, gender, ethnicity

Which people is the method of sampling attractive to?

Positivists

Why is the method of sampling attractive to positivists?

They want to make general statements about wider society

How did Willmot and Young sample?

Use the electrical register (people who were able to vote) as their sampling frame

What is random sampling?

Sample is selected purely at random, everyone has an equal chance of being selected

How can someone randomly sample?

Picking names out of a hat or a random number generator

What is an advantage or random sampling?

Quick

What is a disadvantage of random sampling?

Not representative of the society

Is it better if random sample are larger or smaller?

Larger - it should reflect the characteristics of society (age, class, gender, ethnicity)

What is systematic sampling?

This is where you select an "nth" person in the sampling frame

What did Wilmott and Young use?

Every 36th name on the electoral register

What is an advantage of systematic sampling?

Quick and easy

What is a disadvantage of systematic sampling?

Not representative

What is stratified sampling?

The researcher first "stratifies" (breaks down) the population in the sampling frame by age, class, gender, ect

Give an example of stratified sampling?

It 20% of the population are under 18 then 20% of the sample also has to be under 18

What is an advantage of stratified sampling?

Representative

What is a disadvantage of stratified sampling?

Time consuming and gaining the sample may be hard (e.g lower class people may not want to be part of a survey compared to middle class people)

What is quota sampling?

The population is stratified as you have done, each interviewer is then given a "quota" of 20 females and 20 males

The task continues until the quota is met

What is an advantage of quota sampling?

Reliability

What is a disadvantage of quota sampling?

Time consuming

What is snowball sampling?

This involves collecting a sample by contacting a number of key individuals who will suggest others that might be interviewed

What is an example of snow ball sampling?

Asking someone and for them to bring 3 friends, then they bring 3 friends, ect

What is an advantage of snowball sampling?

No extra work for researcher, quick

What is a disadvantage of snowball sampling?

Not representative, may run out of people, people may only know people similar to them (same class, same ethnicity)

What is also a big advantage of snowball sampling for researchers?

It can be a good method to get people involved who the researcher may not be able to contact themselves eg. criminals

What is opportunity sampling?

It involves choosing respondents from those who are available and easiest to access

What is opportunity sampling also called?

Convenience sampling

How could opportunity sampling be achieved?

Asking passers-by or students in a class

What is an advantage of opportunity sampling?

Easy and quick

What is a disadvantage of opportunity sampling?

Not representative of the whole population, people might not want to get involved